Article

Huddersfield Town 0 Manchester United 2: Lukaku sends visitors through after VAR controversy

17 February 2018 20:26

A double from from Romelu Lukaku secured a 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win for Manchester United against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, despite another controversial moment involving VAR.

The Belgium international struck early in each half to secure a quarter-final spot for Jose Mourinho's side and end their run of back-to-back away defeats.

Victory came despite Juan Mata seeing a first-half strike disallowed after a VAR referral, with the contentious decision prompting more debate about the merits of video technology.

United, who were without the ill Paul Pogba or goalkeeper David de Gea, took the lead three minutes in when Mata's pass was finished in style by Lukaku.

Huddersfield, winners in the home Premier League game against United in October, were largely the better team in the first half but could not trouble Sergio Romero unduly, and they were given a boost when Mata's goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR consultation.

United put the game beyond Huddersfield's control 10 minutes after the restart, though, as Lukaku struck again to seal safe passage to the last eight and give his side a morale boost ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to Sevilla.

Huddersfield started the better of the teams, enjoying 67 per cent of the possession in the opening quarter of an hour, but it was United who made the most of the first early chance.

Mata played a fine throughball to Lukaku, who charged into the penalty area before cutting back on his right foot and firing low past the wrong-footed goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

Huddersfield were targeting the United left to good effect and Tom Ince came close to equalising when Florent Hadergjonaj crossed from that side, though he just failed to get clean contact on the ball as he slid to meet it.

United soaked up the pressure well and thought they had snatched a second goal just before half-time, when Mata rounded Lossl and finished after being picked out by Ashley Young, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR referral judged him offside by virtue of his knee.

The home crowd were buoyed by the decision and were firmly behind Huddersfield as they kept up their pressure early in the second half, but another slick United counter-attack made it two and sapped the fans' energy.

Lukaku played the ball to Alexis Sanchez and raced onto the Chile international's fine return pass, before striding into the area and slotting past Lossl at his right-hand post.

As well as quietening the home support, it was a goal that seemed to relax Mourinho's men, who eased through the closing stages with minimal fuss to seal their place in the quarter-final draw.

And United even managed to hand Eric Bailly a first appearance since November after the centre-back came off the substitutes' bench in the final moments to mark his return from injury.

Key Opta Stats:

- Manchester United have progressed past the fifth round on each of the last nine occasions they have reached this stage.
- Huddersfield have won just one of their last 14 games in all competitions against United (D3 L10).
- Romelu Lukaku has scored 11 goals in his last 10 FA Cup appearances.
- His opener was scored after two minutes 36 seconds – it was fastest goal by United in the FA Cup since Ryan Giggs v Fulham on January 26, 2013 (02:04).
- Lukaku has scored 20 or more goals in all competitions in each of his last four seasons at club level.
- Juan Mata has provided 28 assists for United since his debut, more than any other player at the club.
- United scored with both of their shots on target in the match.